Mango Avocado Salsa

I have to start this post noting that I'm not your typical 'sweet' salsa fan.  I don't like fruits in my jars of spice.  For me, the spicier the better; fruit need not apply.  So what on earth inspired me to make my new favorite 'Mango' salsa?  Maybe it was my craving for mango after spending a week with my mother (mango is her favorite), maybe it was my love for the fresh Guacamole salad Jackie introduced us to in May, but whatever it was, thank goodness!!  You'll love this all natural salsa for it's texture and flavor - the mango so wonderfully compliments ALL of the ingredients and you'll savor this sunny day treat and keep it in your recipe boxes forever.  It's that good.  

Photo via Google

Fresh Mango Avocado Salsa Recipe

1/2 cup diced peeled mango

1/2 cup diced peeled avocado

1/2 cup chopped tomato

1/3 cup diced onion (red or white - I used white for my version)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon minced jalapeño pepper

1/4 tsp kosher salt

Uses:

I used the salsa as a topping for the pork chops we grilled that night.  You can also use it as filling for chicken tacos or as a dip with your favorite blue corn tortilla chips (which is how I ended the meal - as in, the whole bowl of salsa gone in one sitting). 

Dress Find and Rewind

I literally came this close to spitting out my wine the other evening while I was searching through Rent the Runway's latest online collection.  There I saw a flashback of my very self ten years ago!  How could it be?  I was looking at a dress by high-end Italian fashion house, D&G by Dolce and Gabanna, that I swore I purchased from another high end Italian fashion house, Cheap and Chic by Moschino, more than a decade ago.  

Left, the find via RTR; right, the rewind

 Our mother taught us long ago that if you are very selective with what you buy, regardless of cost, you can treasure it forever.  I realized how true this theory was when 'shopping' for my bridal shower shoes and dresses not from any high-end boutique, but rather, my grandmother's closet.  When I visited my parents in March, that advice rang truer than ever, as I came across a fun dress I treasured in college.  I tried it on just to see how it'd look today and realized the classic shape and sillhouette was still as flattering on me today as it was when I bought the dress in 1999!  I thought I wore it out in college and had left it in my teenage closet to 'retire,' as I couldn't part with something so adorable and frankly, so pricey.  Trying it on a decade later brought it back to life, so it's no wonder that D&G has introduced a similar line of dresses for it's 2011 spring collection.    Just when I thought bringing back this cherry printed number might be out dated and risky, even for me, it couldn't be more fashionable!  What do you think of the irony and the similarities?

{We're Obsessed} Kendra Scott

I know I’ve said it before but I am truly obsessed with EVERYTHING Kendra Scott. Her jewelry combines elaborate gorgeous designs with beautiful vibrant colors that are sure to be the PERFECT accessory for any outfit. But more than that, Kendra impresses me as a woman entrepreneur. Some of you may know that Ana is an aspiring jewelry designer and I recently shared Kendra’s story with her. Kendra has always operated under a family-first philosophy and it was her family and her love for fashion (combined with her inarguable talents) that inspired her to create her own jewelry line that gave her a fun and flexible life. An viola – less than 10 years later she has a store in the famed South Congress District of Austin, TX and can be found at top retailers such as Nordstrom, Henri Bendel and Lord and Taylor. Not only that, but her media appearances and celebrity clientele continue to grow by the minute. And to think, at one point, she was one of my Austin “secrets.”

If you haven’t checked out her fabulous jewelry, you need to! Just a few weeks ago I had a friend who was in a wedding and was given the ever so loved task of sporting a pale yellow bridesmaid dress (oh the horror) she asked me how I thought she could accessorize...I immediately reached for my favorite pair of Kendra Scott earrings and lent them to my friend to vamp up her bridesmaid dress and it definitely did the trick! When she returned the earrings to me—she also showed me the two new pairs of Kendra Scott earring she’d purchased for her own collection. I love spreading the fashion love. Here are some of my favorite Kendra Scott pieces and be sure to visit her website and blog for more great stuff from one of my favorite ladies! 

Photos: KendraScott.com

My friend Nicole at wedding w/ borrowed Kendra Scott earrings

Cheers!

Cristi

{Good Grapes Destination} Cancun, Mexico

Recap: We just returned from our family vacation in Cancun last week and I found a new favorite spot! We've been going there for the past 15 years, so to try a new (to us) place that we haven't already tried is always a difficult task. This year's new place was Casa Tequila. It was wonderful! Their food and their margaritas are absolutely delicious! They also have a Playa del Carmen, which is wonderful because we've stayed on that beach as well and will absolutely return. Be sure to check it out if you're ever in Cancun or Playa! And make sure to have a margarita! Salud!

Casa Tequila Cancun Location Photo: Google

Casa Tequila Playa del Carmen Location Photo: Google

Casa Tequila Combo Mexicano Platter Photo: My Own

Casa de Tequila Cancun Location Photo: Google

Cheers!
Cristi

{Thrifty Thursday} Do You Thrift?

One thing the three of us LOVE is a good bargain.  Garage sales, estate sales, Craigslist, opportunity shops, thrift stores, you name it.  Tell us, what is your favorite way to thrift?

pinterest

Cheers!

Ana

Barbecued Pribe Rib Bones

My oh my I hope my fellow grapes lit up their grills this past holiday weekend!  If not, savor a night this week and try our new rib recipe.   Hubby got grill happy and we searched through our mountain of recipe collections to find something new and savory.  We grilled ribs with a Dijon marinade and it was top notch!  Allow a couple of hours (though best when kept overnight) for the beef to absorb the flavors of the marinade.    

Dijon Marinade:
1/3 cup Djion mustard

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil (or salad oil)

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp thyme leaves

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

In a small bowl, combine first two ingredients.  Whisk.  While whisking, add olive oil, gradually.  Beat in garlic, then thyme leaves, sauce and pepper.  Pour over ribs, turn to coat.  

Rib Preparation:

You will need up to six pounds of rib bones.  Arrange them in a large shallow pan and marinade.  Let stand for at least two hours.  

Place bones on lightly greased grill four to six inches above a solid bed of hot coals (or atop upper rack on a gas grill, lit med-high).  Cook, turning and basting frequently with marinade, until done to your liking.  Cut to test (20-25 minutes recommended for medium rare on charcoal grill.  A little less for gas).  

The one pound serving size was worth the calories but also the reason I doubled up on workouts this week (counting vacation consumption as well)!  To cut calories, enjoy just a couple of ribs and fresh grilled vegetables like our grilled corn on the cob and shrimp-stuffed Poblano chile peppers.  Enjoy!

Cheers!

Ana

PS- I know my pics haven't been so great.  I'm reliant on my cell phone for pictures ever since my camera broke a few months ago.  I think I'll have a new camera (save for any unexpected expenses) by the end of the month.  Thanks for baring with the phone pics. 

Take Me There: Eataly NYC

Bonjourno!  I've recently overheard a few conversations mentioning a place in New York called Eataly.  Fortunately, without knowing my passion for this type of open food marketplace, my good friend Michele treated me to my first visit to Eataly in April. 

Eataly is a grand Italian food and wine market in Turin that has come stateside and landed in Manhattan. You have to go there to experience it all, but I can honestly say I was in heaven.  Inside you feel as if you're walking miles and miles in some of Italy's hidden alleys and passageways that lead to some of the most wonderful little trattorias, pizzerias and butcher shops.  We stopped for an espresso (the machine was too impressive not to) and headed to the main Piazza, where we enjoyed a selection of fresh cheeses and cured meats prepared by the butcher.  Who needs a cross-Atlantic flight when you can get a three hour train ticket to experience authentic Italian?  Buon Appetito!

Here we are at the Espresso bar

Eataly, 200 Fifth Ave (at 23rd St.), New York, NY 10010

As in Italy, an afternoon stop for cheese, meats and Lambrusco is a must!

Hope you get the chance to experience it for yourselves one day!

Cheers!

Ana